Bland/Ewing Cycles: Separated Reaction Segments for CHP Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chemo/thermodynamic heat engine cycles, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,067,594, 3,225,538, and 3,871,179, face inefficiencies in converting chemical reactions to mechanical work, particularly in the management of endothermic and exothermic fluids, which limits the overall mechanical efficiency of these systems.
Innovation Solution
The Bland/Ewing (B/E) cycles are enhanced by separating endothermic and exothermic reactions into distinct segments, optimizing them for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) or Combined Cycle (CC) processes, using novel expander and compressor designs, and incorporating exothermic production variants to maximize thermal or mechanical output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If endothermic and exothermic reactions are combined in a single cycle, then the system can operate continuously, but the mechanical efficiency is limited due to interference between reaction segments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heat engine cycle into separate endothermic and exothermic segments that operate in distinct chambers. The endothermic reaction chamber and exothermic reaction chamber are physically separated, allowing each reaction type to be optimized independently while maintaining continuous cyclic operation. This segmentation eliminates the interference between opposing reaction segments that plagues single-chamber designs.
2Power
If the number of moles in endothermic fluid is increased to perform more work, then the work output increases, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a circulating fluid system where the same chemical substance (e.g., cyclohexane/benzene) serves multiple functions: it undergoes endothermic decomposition to generate high-temperature products for work expansion, then the products undergo exothermic recombination to regenerate the original substance and release heat. This multi-functional circulating system enables increased work output through mole multiplication without proportionally increasing system complexity.
3Loss of energy
If exothermic fluid is minimized before compression, then the efficiency of compression improves, but the heat transfer management becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces heat exchangers as intermediary devices between the exothermic reaction chamber and the compression chamber. These heat exchangers serve as mediators that pre-cool the exothermic fluid products before compression, improving compression efficiency by reducing the thermal load on the compressor. Simultaneously, the heat exchangers capture and redirect this thermal energy to assist in heating the endothermic reactants, simplifying overall heat transfer management through systematic thermal coupling.
Data Source
AI summary
Engine systems and methods for performing a new chemical/thermodynamic cycle, termed a Chemo/thermodynamic Closed Combined (CCC) cycle, are proposed herein. The CCC cycle is composed of an Endothermic Chemo/thermodynamic Open cycle (En-C-O) and an Exothermic Chemo/thermodynamic Open cycle (Ex-C-O), which together complete the larger CCC cycle. CCC cycles may operate as a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) cycle. Since the En-C-O and the Ex-C-O cycles are able to operate independently of one another, they can be distanced from one another in time and/or space. To complete the larger CCC cycle, the En-C-O and Ex-C-O chemical working fluids are stored and/or transported between one another. An Exothermic Reactor Exhaust Compressor (EREC), for permitting otherwise-waste CCC heat to convert said chemical working fluids from liquid/frozen pressurized states into pressurized vapors and/or gases, is also proposed herein. Finally, various En-C-O and Ex-C-O cycles are proposed herein.